Search This Blog

Posts

I couldn't stop, even on the road... I crocheted this shawl and finished it at Waitabit Creek, one of our favourite campsites near Golden, BC. Something about the mountain air made me want to add a BIG fringe.

I'm leaving on a camping trip tomorrow, but I just had to finish these soft bamboo socks tonight! They're a fairly simple pattern, but I think I'm ready to try something trickier now. (Yes, that is a real tattoo...)

When I was a kid my favourite Dr. Seuss story was The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins and maybe that's why I persist in buying and making hats even though I seldom seem to find the right one for me. Here are a few attempts.

I modified the sleeves by picking up the stitches with my smallest circular needles and turned them into stockinette full-length sleeves as opposed to the 3/4 on the pattern.

I also knit the bottom of the body on circulars, picking up the stitches after I seamed the top (garter) portion, which was more fun than just knitting two pieces and sewing them together (I dislike sewing, in case you hadn't noticed). I used a chunky acrylic yarn, and it knit up really fast, which is always a plus.

I've worn this quite a few times and it's perfect for chilly evenings here because it's loose enough to go over a tank top but the simple open neck isn't too warm.

Ok, I knit a LOT of wristwarmers when I first started out, but I had fun thinking up new designs. Here are two variations on camo warmers using a ginormous ball of discount yarn I got from The Store Who Must Not Be Named (eek, it's Waldemart...).

The opera-warmers are k2p2 rib with crocheted ruffles, and the shorties are a mix of garter, stockinette and k2p2 rib. Both are knit flat and sewn up to create the thumbhole -- simple and elegante!

Here is an obligatory dog pic (Lexie the dog was borrowed from my friend, Nance). It was taken at a favourite beach on Denman Island, at a sacred burial site (no, just kidding -- I dunno why that cross is there). My older daughter is wearing the short camo warmers.

I actually made the obligatory garter stitch scarf when I was 12 (it was an orange and brown variegated worsted with white fringe, woohoo!) but this winter I revisited scarves because my family wanted some.

I made three variations on a k2p2 rib-knit scarf for me and the kids...

then I made a 100% wool scarf, knit in garter stitch, yes, but horizontally on very long, large circular needles, for a friend's winter birthday. Shown here with the obligatory cat.

Note: Since I'm still learning different techniques I don't often splurge on expensive yarn. I came across a blog somewhere that talked about salvaging yarn from thrift stores and even unraveling old sweaters, so I decided that many of my small, beginner projects would have the added feel-goodness of being recycled.

Just so my crochet hook doesn't feel left out, here's a pic of a quick handbag I whipped up the other day (based on a pattern in Stitch 'n Bitch: The Happy Hooker) to match some orangey thrift-store shoes I found.

Ok, I look a little weird in the pic, but the purse looks great, I think.

Well, I finally decided I'm serious about this knitting thing, so I'm doing what all serious people do: I'm bloggin' it!

This is primarily a forum to show off my various projects and progress; I re-started knitting just over a year ago after a 30 year break and I'm really glad I've found something new to do with my hands...

Welcome to my knitting blog. Enjoy the pics, the trials, the tribulations, and the moments of small glory contained herein.

(The pic is me in a pair of ruffled wristwarmers I made for my lovely friend, Christy. I think they sort of look like girlie hockey socks.)